Our Subaru’s departure leaves us with heavy hearts
Hard to believe, but a year with our Subaru
BRZ has come and gone, leaving a glaring hole in our long-term fleet. No longer
can we rely on its services to provide a back-road pick-me-up after a long day
in the office. No more enthralling track sessions. And more than 24,000
fun-filled miles later, our time is sadly over.
We eagerly looked forward to track days,
autocrosses and weekends bombing around our favorite roadways. Its on-road
handling prowess didn’t disappoint, thanks to quick reflexes and razor-sharp
steering response and feel. Ride quality over the long haul proved acceptable
for regular commuting and short road trips.
The
BRZ takes no time to settle into a steady cornering state
The 2.0-liter boxer-four caused debate
around here. Some believed 200 hp was reasonable, with its lively throttle
response and high-revving nature. Others wanted more motivation underhood; this
is where the long-rumored turbo would be ideal. More power would surely squash
office grumbles and those coming from the enthusiast community. No debate about
the manual transmission, though; it always featured short throws and slick
shifts.
While we didn’t do as many track days as
hoped, the BRZ did plant smiles on our faces when we unleashed it on road
courses. Unlike many modern, over-computerized performance cars that seemingly
operate themselves, the BRZ always begged to be driven. It demanded respect,
though, too. Tossing it hard into a corner was punishable by the back end
over-rotating and making you look like a schmuck. The Michelin Primacy HP tires
magnified the tail-end-happy nature. They weren’t aggressive summer tires—great
if you wanted a drift machine but not ideal for quicker lap times. If you
wanted to do serious track work, you’d also want to address the brakes. The
stock pads and brake fluid held up fine for a few hard sessions but fell off
afterward. That’s not a complaint; in fact, it’s typical of OEM equipment.
Aftermarket track pads and high-temp brake fluid would be simple and affordable
solutions.
The
layout is functional and has enough design flair to lift the ambience
Back to the engine for a second. Without
gobs of power, the BRZ was a momentum car, making it a more fulfilling
experience when you turned a clean lap. Seating position was just right, with
well-bolstered sport seats holding you tight.
Living with this Subaru through the daily
slog wasn’t half bad, either. There’s decent cargo room with the rear seats
folded—one staffer even hauled a large floor sander. The simple cabin had some
niceties like heated seats, Bluetooth and navigation, but the latter’s
touchscreen controls were small, requiring pinpoint accuracy. Numerous road
trips were handled without a problem, but a few editors did tire after several
hundred miles of cabin noise and road chatter. Back-seat space proved tight and
would be best used for short trips.
BRZ's
boxer engine is at its best at high revs
We mounted Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3
winter tires for when the snow flew. The BRZ handled it well, cutting through
slush and light snow accumulation. We only ran into trouble in deep snow, where
the car’s low ground clearance caused us to get high-centered a couple of
times, requiring a dig out.
The car also proved surprisingly efficient,
returning 27.2 mpg for the year, better than the 25-mpg EPA combined figure.
For a first-model-year car, our BRZ was also reliable— in fact, it never called
in sick. The only hiccups were a jumpy idle appearing on-and-off (not solved
after an ECM reflash) and taillight condensation, which was taken care of under
warranty.
The
front seats manage to be comfortable and supportive
Even at the end, our BRZ enthusiasm didn’t
wane. “This car is still as fun as it was when we first took the keys,” noted
one editor in our logbook’s last entry. The BRZ’s enduring playful nature comes
down to its simple DNA: It’s a good-looking, affordable, lightweight,
well-balanced, rear-wheel-drive coupe. A car like this has been absent from the
segment for a long time. It was a quick year, one we would gladly relive. Maybe
if the turbo versions ever get here, we can spend another year in one of those.
Come on, what do you say, Subaru?
